Round of Applause
The Stanley Cup Playoffs have been outstanding, for those of you who haven’t been watching. The Rangers-Capitals series was stupidly exciting with every game played at a frenetic pace, and the Bruins’ comeback from a 4-1 hole with 11 minutes to play in Game 7 against the Maple Leafs was an all-time thing to see. I’m all in on the Rangers the rest of the way (they and the Wild sat atop my preseason favorite teams, as determined by a quotient involving American players on teams’ rosters) so I hope you’ll join me. One thing is absolutely for sure: Anything that happens in a rink over the next month or so will be far more exciting and entertaining than anything that happens on a floor.
Word from the Woods
Boys Tennis
Woodland cruised to another Naugatuck Valley League win over Watertown on Tuesday by an 8-1 margin. The Hawks swept singles play with Kyle Beynor, Steve Pec, Matt Murphy, Pat Dietz, Nick Rioux and Mike Ventimiglia all earning wins, while the Pec-Dietz and Alex Tulk-Johan Haile doubles teams gained victories. Woodland continued its winning ways with matching 8-1 victories over Wilby on Wednesday and Kennedy on Thursday. The Hawks, who are still undefeated in the NVL, have already clinched the NVL and Brass Division titles. They finish the regular season with senior day Friday against Wolcott, before the NVL singles and doubles tournaments on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Track and Field
The Woodland boys and girls both cruised to victories over Platt Tech and O’Brien Tech on Tuesday in the Hawks’ final tune-up before next week’s NVL championship meet. Event winners for the boys included the 4-by-800-meter relay team (Nick Hebert, Andy Hale, Joe Reynolds, Jimmy Jensen), the 4-by-100 relay team (Nick LaPerriere, Rahmi Rountree, Hunter Watford, Jason Rodrigues), Brett Fowler (110 and 300 hurdles), Rahmi Rountree (100), LaPerriere (200 and 400), Jack Pinho (800), Dean Conway (1,600), Zack Noreika (3,200), Mike Lang (high jump, long jump and triple jump), Shane Classey (pole vault) and Levi Fancher (javelin and shot put). Event winners for the girls included the 4-by-800 relay team (Miranda Moffat, Emma Poryanda, Ava Capuano, Clara Drozdowski), the 4-by-100 relay team (Jiye Park, Steph Dumond, Ashley Michie, Tayler Boncal), the 4-by-400 relay team (Boncal, Capuano, Lisa Thrasher, Jazmyn Menzies), Alison Knox (100 hurdles), Sydney Corneau (300 hurdles), Michie (100 and 200), Boncal (400), Poryanda (800), Mary Sardinskas (1,600), Drozdowski (3,200), Menzies (high jump), Jess Rodrigues (long jump), Park (triple jump), Megan Lynch (pole vault), Abbey Rosato (javelin and discus) and Nikole Tyrrell (shot put). Woodland will host the league championship meet Tuesday.
Golf
The Hawks dropped a pair of matches earlier this week against two of the league’s top teams, Wolcott and Holy Cross. On Monday at the par-34 Farmingbury Hills, the Eagles knocked off Woodland, 158-182. Mike Erickson led the way for the Hawks with a 38 while Ryan Warner posted a 45, Andy O’Dell carded a 47 and Owen Harris shot a 52. On Tuesday at the par-36 Oxford Greens, undefeated Holy Cross earned a 153-192 win. Erickson and O’Dell both shot 46, Warner carded a 47 and Harris posted a 53. Woodland is 3-6 overall and will finish the regular season with a pair of matches next week at East Mountain against Sacred Heart, Crosby and Wilby.
Naugy Notes
Boys Tennis
Naugatuck stayed hot as the regular season starts to close. The Greyhounds earned three more wins to improve to 15-2 and clinch the Naugatuck Valley League Copper Division title. Naugy beat Wilby, 8-1, on Monday before squeaking out a 5-4 win over Crosby on Tuesday. Against the Bulldogs, Tyler Posser, Jake Morrissey, Nate Lindsly and Jake Gingold earned singles wins while the team of Mike Popescu and Posser clinched the match victory with a win at No. 1 doubles. Julian Milek, Popescu, Yun Chao Chen, Jeff Hensley and Fernando Branco also contributed to victories in Monday’s win over the Wildcats. On Wednesday, the Greyhounds topped Kennedy 8-1. Naugy finished the regular season this week before the NVL singles and doubles tournaments, which will be Tuesday and Wednesday.
Track and Field
The Greyhounds enjoyed a week off before next week’s NVL championship meet, which will be hosted at Woodland on Tuesday. Several Naugatuck athletes are expected to challenge for gold medals.
Golf
Naugatuck fell to 3-6 on the season with a pair of narrow losses earlier this week. On Monday at the par-36 East Mountain, Naugy and Sacred Heart both shot 184 but the Hearts prevailed on a matching of card. Brendan Waldron was the co-medalist with a 42 while Nick Tribanas was close behind with a 44. Tyler Sounanthanam carded a 48 and Thomas Karas posted a 50. On Tuesday at the par-34 Farmingbury Hills, Wolcott knocked off Naugy, 169-179. Tribanas earned the medal with a 39 while Dan Capone posted a 43. Matt Jackson carded a 45 and Sounanthanam shot a 52. On Thursday the Greyhounds fell to Watertown, 163-191, but picked a win over Kennedy, 163-240. The ‘Hounds will wrap up the regular season next week with Monday’s home match against St. Paul and Tuesday’s match against Kennedy at Western Hills.
